Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

A woman allegedly affiliated with a party-list group was killed, while an undetermined number of suspected members of New People&#x27;s Army were wounded in a clash with Philippine Army troops in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, the military said.The firefight began on the morning of January 1, 2026. Government forces carried out an airstrike to support soldiers on the ground, according to the military.Brig. Gen. Melencio Ragudo, commander of the 203rd Infantry “Bantay Kapayapaan” Brigade under the 2nd Infantry Division, said troops were deployed after residents reported the presence of an armed group allegedly intimidating communities in the area.“Nagrereklamo sila sa presence ng mga armado na nag-umpisa pa yan noong mga first week ng December. Dahan-dahan silang nagtipon-tipon. Noong nakarating sa amin yung report, pinaghandaaan namin. Noong 31 ng gabi, mas maraming tao na yung nagrereport sa amin kasi sobrang dami na daw. In-operate na namin, kaya noong umaga, mga 6:30 ng madaling araw ng 1, nabunggo namin sila,” Ragudo said in an interview with DZMM TeleRadyo.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/2/army-troops-in-clashes-with-npa-in-occidental-mindoro-were-responding-to-community-reports-1526">Army: Troops in clashes with NPA in Occidental Mindoro were acting on community reports </a> </div>“Ang una-unang hinihingi ay pagkain. Tapos pinipilit silang ipunin, kausapin, hindi natin alam kung bakit. Sila po yung tinatawag natin na Kilusang Larangang Guerilla ng Northern Part ng Mindoro.”He also claimed the group had been recruiting members from urban centers, including students from schools and various youth sectors, and had also targeted indigenous Mangyan communities.The Army said it recovered multiple student IDs and ATM cards at the encounter site, which it alleged belonged to young recruits undergoing “tour of duty” or exposure training to become full-fledged NPA members.“Nirerecruit nila ang mga yan sa mga  siyudad, sa mga eskwelahan ,galing sa mga iba’t ibang sector  and then kapag mayroon na silang schedule for  TOD o yun tour of duty, or yung pinaka-exposure nila  papunta sa armadong grupo   para gawing  member ng NPA, pahawakin  ng armas,maging miyembro ng hukbo  dinadala nila doon sa bundok,” Ragudo said.He also alleged that some recruits had staged a “guerilla theater” performance honoring fallen NPA commanders from Regions 4A and 4B shortly before soldiers arrived, triggering the armed encounter.“Mayroon pa silang parang program, may drama. Nakita yung mga sash, mga pangalan ng dating commander na namatay sa 4A at 4B, parang ino-honor nila, pinapakita na guerilla theater. Noong nadaanan sila ng sundalo, nagkabakbakan na,” Ragudo added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/pnp-maintains-security-posture-despite-cpp-npa-4-day-ceasefire-1340">PNP maintains security posture despite CPP-NPA 4-day ceasefire</a></div>The woman killed in the clash was allegedly identified through an  ID as a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English student from a university in Manila.The Army confirmed that two soldiers were wounded in the fighting.The encounter also triggered mass displacement among indigenous communities. The  Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office o PSWDO said 188 Mangyan families, or 769 individuals, evacuated to Cabacao National High School for safety.Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Tito Tobias condemned the rebels’ alleged actions, citing heightened fear and security risks in Mangyan communities.The local government of Abra de Ilog also released an official statement strongly denouncing the group behind the unrest.“Walang puwang sa bayan ng Abra de Ilog ang mga taong dulot ay kilabot at malubhang pagkabalisa sa aming pamayanan. Minsan na po tayong namuhay sa ganitong uri ng sitwasyon na lubos na nakakaapekto sa pag-asenso ng kabuhayan at pag-unlad ng ating bayan,” the statement read.Ragudo dismissed allegations from militant groups that the Army’s response was “overkill.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/2/suspect-in-north-cotabato-grenade-attack-killed-in-police-pursuit-operation-1452">Suspect in North Cotabato grenade attack killed in police pursuit operation</a></div>“Parang it’s automatic response na nila ‘yan. Sabi ko nga, wala na bang mas bagong tugtugin diyan?” he said.He also denied accusations of indiscriminate bombing.“Hindi totoo na binobomba natin ang mga bahay, community, o sibilyan. Hindi natin tina-target ang non-combatants,” Ragudo said.Security across Mindoro Island remains under heightened alert as military pursuit operations against the remaining suspected rebels continue.

A woman allegedly affiliated with a party-list group was killed, while an undetermined number of suspected members of New People's Army were wounded in a clash with Philippine Army troops in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, the military said.

A woman allegedly affiliated with a party-list group was killed, while an undetermined number of suspected members of New People's Army were wounded in a clash with Philippine Army troops in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, the military said.

Woman with alleged ties to partylist group killed in Occidental Mindoro clash

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Woman with alleged ties to partylist group killed in Occidental Mindoro clash

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 03, 2026 08:23 PM PHT

Read More:

Kabataan partylist

Encounter

NPA

Philippine Army

AFP

Abra de Ilog

Occidental Mindoro

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